Bokor Iyanifa Omifunmi Nire (Iya Mari) was born in Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. and has over 28 years as a consecrated practitioner of several healing arts and indigenous healing approaches based in African traditional practices. These modalities include her initiations and consecrations into the Spiritual Baptist practices of the Caribbean. She is also initiated and consecrated into the Orisa and Ifa traditions of the Yoruba people of Nigeria and the Ewe people of Togo and Ghana.
Iya Mari holds certifications in Healing Touch, an energy-based bio-field therapy, Classical Hatha yoga, and raw food nutrition and preparation. Iya Mari is a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist with over 37 years of experience in the Cardiac Cath lab.
Iya Mari believes that relationships are the most important elements of human growth and development and that healthy relationships feed the soul. She believes that entanglements and unhealthy attachments eat away at the soul and kill the spirit.
Mother Adwoa Carr has been involved in traditional African practice and culture since 1973. She is a current board member of Ujamaa School. She was a member of the ACRS and Temple of Nyame from 1985 to 2020 where she served in many roles including her role as a member of the leadership body.
Mother Adwoa was initiated into the rites of the Mourning Ground in May 2011 and was consecrated and installed as a "Mother" in 2019. In 2020, she received consecrated implements for Esu and Isefa also known as Hand of Ifa.
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Mother Adwoa retired after over 40 years of service with USDA. She enjoys traveling and has made several trips to Africa including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast.
Babalawo Ifalase was born in the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia. He was a member of the Temple of Nyame for over 25 years and became a member of the leadership body, known as the inner circle. He received consecrated implements for the Orisa Esu, Ogun and Osoosi in 2005. In 2006, he was initiated as a Babalorisa and was consecrated to Obatala. In 2007, he was initiated to the sacred knife society.
In 2008, he was consecrated to the Trinidadian Drum. In 2009, he was initiated into the Rites of the Mourning Ground Ritual and consecrated as a Ritual Assistant. In 2019, he took a further step into the mourning ground and was consecrated as a leader. Additionally, in 2019, he was initiated as a Babalawo in Oyo, Nigeria.
Baba Ifalase is a holistic biological dentist. His dental practice features eco freindly approaches to reduce the environmental impact.
Iyalorisa Oya Mayowa was born of Jamaican parentage. She has always had an avid interest in health and exercise. She began her interest in African Culture in University. She and her husband were members of the Temple of Nyame for over twenty-five years. She was initiated into the rites of the Mourning Ground in 2011 and is consecrated as a Ritual Assistant. In 2011, she received consecrated implements for Orisa Esu, Ogun and Osoosi. In 2019, she was initiated as an Olorisa in Oyo, Nigeria and is consecrated to Oya.
She is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Bodyworker, Reiki Master and Yoga Instructor. She enjoys music, dancing and cooking.
Iyalorisa Ifakemi Daynna was born a Jehovah's Witness. She joined the Nation of Islam and studied at Mosque #4 in Washington, DC at age 17. She was introduced to African Spirituality in 2002 when she began attending classes and rituals with the Washington, DC Auser Auset Society. In 2004, she was baptized into the Yoruba Spiritual Tradition by Mother Taylor. In 2005, she was initiated as an Iyalorisa consecrated to Yemoja. She received the consecrated implements of Yemoja, Obatala, Sango, Ogun, Esu, and Egungun. In 2019, after a trip to Ghana, she began studying at the Ile Yemoja under Bokor Iyanifa Mari. In 2020, she received Hand of Ifa.
As a Community Economic Development Specialist, for over 20 years, Iyalorisa Ifakemi Daynna has dedicated her career to designing programs of intervention for vulnerable populations around the world. She sees her work as her service and continues to be in service.
Iyalorisa Olosunde is born of African and Native American heritage, the women in her family are known for their spiritual gifts. Compelled to learn more about her gifts, she underwent a Rites of Passage based in part on Khemetic principles. She is a martial artist and holds two black belt degrees - one in the Kupigana Ngumi form. She was a member of the Temple of Nyame for over 27 years and became part of its Leadership Body. She also began training as an Okyeame.
Iyalorisa Olosunde was initiated into the Mourning Ground and is consecrated as a Ritual Assistant. In 2019 she was initiated as an Olorisa in Oyo, Nigeria consecrated to Osun. Iyalorisa Olosunde challenges her creative side through photography, documentary filmmaking, writing and art. She has been involved in the entertainment field having worked in TV, radio and film, she continues to work in marketing and advertising. Her love for African dance and culture in general is seen in her daily walk.
Babalorisa OgunSoTiTo began his journey with African spirituality in 1993. He was initiated as an inner circle member at the Temple of Nyame in Washington DC. He received consecrated implements for Esu, Ogun and Osoosi and he was also initiated into the Spiritual Baptist Traditions. He underwent the Mourning Ground Ritual, and is Consecrated as a Ritual Assistant. In 2019, he was initiated as a Babalorisa and consecrated to the Orisa Ogun in Oyo, Nigeria.
Babalorisa OgunSoTiTo has been recognized as a highly effective teacher in both the DCPS Public and Charter school systems and selected, in that capacity, to travel both internationally and nationally on both cultural and educational trips to Uganda, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and more. He also carries the distinction of being a Black Belt instructor in the Afrikan Martial Art of Kupigana Ngumi having achieved the rank of Mfundi. Babalorisa OgunSoTiTo can be seen assisting his marital arts instructor in Inside Kung Fu magazine as well as in martial art videos and documentaries.
Iyalorisa Yemoja Busola Ajoke was born to African American parents who migrated to the urban north from South Carolina. She was raised in both Southern Christian and Catholic traditions and later studied both the Islamic and Khemetic traditions. She continues to nurture ongoing interests in healing, wellness maintenance, dance, science, and the benefits of meditation.
While in high school, she developed a growing interest in African history, culture and achievements. She was a member of the Temple of Nyame community for 15 years. In 2009, she initiated into the rites of the Mourning Ground and was consecrated as a ritual assistant. In 2011, she received consecrated implements for Orisa Esu, Ogun and Osoosi. In 2019, Yemoja Busola initiated as an Iyalorisa in Oyo, Nigeria and is consecrated to Orisa Yemoja.
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Iyalorisa Yemoja Busola Ajoke is a practicing integrative physician, and Reiki worker. She finds much enjoyment in dance, music, travel, reading, writing, nurturing youth, spending time with family, preparing and eating healthy food and being in nature.
Iyalorisa Osunbunmi was born into a family that practiced African Spiritual traditions. Her parents were founding members of the Temple of Nyame. She was given the name is Esi (after Nana Esi) Akua Afi Afoh Lydia. In 2017, Afi was sent on mission to Trinidad W.I to continue her training in Orisa songs and chants. In 2018 She initiated into the Mourning Grounds and was consecrated as a ritual assistant. In 2019, she initiated to the Orisa Osun in Oyo, Nigeria.
Iyalorisa Osunbunmi is a professional singer/recording artist, dancer and teacher. She has a strong connection to children and the need to care for them that has now expanded to young adults and her calling to mentor them. She is in service to the community to facilitate ancestral connections, to support the youth in understanding their roles and values in the community. She uses music and song as a tool to facilitate healing with Spirit and love.
Baba Uchenna was born to Nigerian and Trinidadian parents. He was raised in the tradition of Orisa and Abosum practices. He was a member of the Yoruba Temple under the leadership of Mother Pamela Taylor for the first ten years of his life. He is initiated into the Mourning Ground and took two thrones – the first one being when his mother was four months pregnant with him. He undertook the Mourning Ground Ritual again at the age of 8. His commitment and service in the Mourning Ground Ritual has spanned almost his entire life.
In 2003, Baba Uchenna journeyed to Trinidad and under leadership of Mother Norma, he was consecrated to Oya and was also “marked” to be initiated to Sango. He was a member of the Temple Nyame for over 18 years.
In 2007, Baba Uchenna was initiated to the sacred knife society. In 2008, he was consecrated to the Trinidadian Orisa drums and has trained under Baba Kayode Nelson and took advanced training under Baba Richard Corridon of Trinidad and Tobago.